Hours-based schedule ditches calamity days

1:16 AM,
Jan. 11, 2014

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School districts across Ohio racked up calamity days during subzero temperatures, but many schools won't have to make up that kind of day starting this fall.

Changes in the most recent budget shifted mandatory time in the school year from 182 days to 1,001 hours for grades seven through 12 and 910 hours for lower grades starting in the 2014-15 school year. That means school districts will not have to make up calamity days if they're already meeting the 1,001-hour threshold.

A 1,001 hour school year is the equivalent of 182 days lasting 5½ hours. Some schools exceed 5½ hours per day, leaving them ...